Craig Valentine's "Edge of Their Seats" Public Speaking Blog!tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-14469542010-04-02T11:14:47-04:00How to keep your audiences leaning on your every word while making them TALL (Think, Act, Laugh, and Learn)TypePad2 Delivery Tools to Uncover Humor in Your Speechtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54f04385488340133ec684fbf970b2010-04-02T11:14:47-04:002010-04-02T11:14:47-04:00Obviously content and structure are important for uncovering humor. However, so is delivery. Here are 2 delivery tools you can use to make your speeches more humorous. Humorous Delivery Tool #1: The Look before the Line As you probably know,...Craig ValentineMy Biggest Mistake and the Two Tools That Fixed Ittag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54f043854883401310faf3bf8970c2010-03-17T09:28:26-04:002010-03-17T09:30:41-04:00I've always prided myself in being a content-rich speaker so imagine my surprise when I had the following conversation after a speech. A couple ladies cornered me and said, "You had a lot of content in your speech." I said,...Craig ValentineA Key to Public Speaking: No Phrase, No Stage (Video)tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54f04385488340120a83b7138970b2010-02-01T09:52:37-05:002010-02-01T09:54:10-05:00Have you ever wondered what to keep in your story and what to take out? Have you ever wondered how to tighten up your message? Have you ever wondered how to find the phrase that makes your story stick? Watch...Craig Valentine25 Phrases to Guide You to Greatness in Speaking tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54f0438548834012876ffc2c9970c2010-01-22T09:00:46-05:002010-01-22T09:00:46-05:00Every now and then it is important to remind ourselves of some of the foundations that can lift us to great heights in speaking. Here are 25 phrases to do just that. Speak to one but look to all When...Craig ValentineBe Funny and Clear by Using the Rule of Threetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54f04385488340120a7581af6970b2009-12-16T10:52:38-05:002009-12-16T10:53:35-05:00If the most important word in speaking is ‘you,’ the most important number in speaking is three. The Rule of 3 manifests in many ways. It helps make your speech more humorous, clearer, and more memorable. Use it For Humor...Craig Valentine3 Keys to Closing your Speech with Impacttag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54f04385488340120a6d8521f970b2009-11-25T14:20:28-05:002009-11-25T14:20:28-05:00In speaking we have to understand that audiences remember best what they hear first and what they hear last. Therefore, the way we open a speech is critical and the way we close it is just as important. There are...Craig Valentine3 Keys To Hook Your Audience Into Your Story tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54f04385488340120a6ab95db970b2009-11-17T15:24:26-05:002009-11-17T15:25:54-05:00Tap, Tease, and Transport Most speakers start their stories and hope their audiences will come along on those journeys. That's average. World Class Speakers don't do that. Instead, they make their audiences curious so that they want to come along....Craig Valentine5 Ways to Use Statistics for Maximum Impact tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54f04385488340120a6217ca0970c2009-10-07T15:20:45-04:002009-10-07T15:20:45-04:00Note: This blog entry is an excerpt from my latest book World Class Speaking that I co-authored with Mitch Meyerson. 1. Do not Drop Stats off; Drive them Home Many times you will see a speaker go into a list...Craig ValentineVideo: 3 Keys to Opening your Speech with Impacttag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54f04385488340120a5957f86970c2009-09-01T19:58:31-04:002009-09-05T10:24:07-04:00Did you know that, within the first 30 seconds of your speech, your audience members will have decided whether or not they want to hear more? What are you doing with your first 30 seconds? Most speakers open with Unpleasant...Craig ValentineHow to Clarify your Message, Shorten it, and make it Stick tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54f04385488340120a57abe10970c2009-08-27T02:09:06-04:002009-08-27T02:29:33-04:00Would you like a surefire way to clarify your message, shorten it, and make it stick? One of the best ways to do this is to relate the unknown to the known. In textbook language this is referred to as...Craig Valentine